NBD Sire Z7-4

[Franticsmurf]

I've had my eye on one of these for a while and have been reading the comments/reviews on the topics that mention the Z7. On Wednesday I had my replacement credit card and it had to be road tested and... well... ummm... 

 

 

I was looking for a natural finish but when searching Anderton's website, the only Z7s with this finish were 5 strings. But search for natural finish basses without using the manufacturer's name and these pop up. The QC and setup out of the box were great and I don't see (hear?) the need to fiddle to make any improvements so far. The pre-amp set up will take a while - I've only played through headphones so far but it seems there are a lot of potential options. I can see what everyone is saying about the knobs feeling cheap and I'll be looking for replacements at some point. I also think the two stacked knobs seem quite vulnerable to knocks, particularly if the bass is on a stand on a stage. Mine weighs in at 4.4kg (9.7lbs).  

[Sean]

It is said that these are very close in quality, playability, sound to a Stingray. All those MM basses are really off my radar so,  what's the verdict with these Z7s? Are they up there with the ATK as a "Stingray Killer"?

Edited 21 hours ago by Sean

[Franticsmurf]

Early days as I have yet to gig it to be able to make a definite comparison. I play a Sterling 34HH (the Z7 was intended as a back up to keep a similar sound) and so far, at home volume levels, the sound from the bridge pick up appears the same. The Z7 pre-amp seems to provide more tonal variety in active mode (I don't know if this is as a result of it being 18v rather than the Sterling's 9v). Unlike some reviews, I've found my neck pick up doesn't have a volume drop. In active mode it can get quite thick and bassy but it doesn't quite match the 34HH's neck pick up. 

 

So far I don't think it's a Sterling Killer but then I never rated my ATK as one, either. But I reserve the right to change my mind after I've used in in anger. 🙂 

[mcnach]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

It is said that these are very close in quality, playability, sound to a Stingray. All those MM basses are really off my radar so,  what's the verdict with these Z7s? Are they up there with the ATK as a "Stingray Killer"?

 

I have both a Z3-5 and Z7-5. I no longer have an EBMM Stingray 5, I have the Ray35 which isn't that different from the 'real thing' (and the 4-string EBMM Stingray that was my main bass for over a decade). My comparisons are based on that specific sample of basses, and my opinion is just that: like, my opinion, maaan.

 

The Sires' built is more than decent. Their necks are just beautiful. The Z7 is the winner in terms of looks and feel. The neck of the Z3 wasn't as well finished, but this is not so much to say the Z3 was bad, rather that the Z7 was superb. I think it would be very difficult to match the general build quality of an EBMM instrument. But they also cost quite a lot more, and these do not feel 'budget' at all (especially the Z7).

 

Both can sound very Stingray-like, with the Z3 closer than the Z7, to these ears o'mine.

 

I've been using mostly the Z3 live, since I bought it. 

 

[King Tut]

How do you find the pre in the z3 vs the z7. Can you cut the treble on the z3 or is it boost only?

6 hours ago, mcnach said:

 

I have both a Z3-5 and Z7-5. I no longer have an EBMM Stingray 5, I have the Ray35 which isn't that different from the 'real thing' (and the 4-string EBMM Stingray that was my main bass for over a decade). My comparisons are based on that specific sample of basses, and my opinion is just that: like, my opinion, maaan.

 

The Sires' built is more than decent. Their necks are just beautiful. The Z7 is the winner in terms of looks and feel. The neck of the Z3 wasn't as well finished, but this is not so much to say the Z3 was bad, rather that the Z7 was superb. I think it would be very difficult to match the general build quality of an EBMM instrument. But they also cost quite a lot more, and these do not feel 'budget' at all (especially the Z7).

 

Both can sound very Stingray-like, with the Z3 closer than the Z7, to these ears o'mine.

 

I've been using mostly the Z3 live, since I bought it. 

 

 

[mcnach]

3 hours ago, King Tut said:

How do you find the pre in the z3 vs the z7. Can you cut the treble on the z3 or is it boost only?

 

 

 

Treble is cut+boost on both Z3 and Z7. It's just that the Z7 has an additional passive tone control (which is of course cut only).

 

I prefer the Z3, but that's just my personal preference: the semiparametric mids control on the Z7 can be very useful but in general I find the fixed mids on the Z3 to be just where I want them.

 

If having a Jazz neck pickup is important to you, I'd say go for the Z7. Otherwise, while the Z7 definitely feels more 'premium', I find the Z3 more to my liking.  

 

One thing about the Z7 that is worth thinking about, is that some people find the neck J-style pickup to be much quieter than the bridge pickup. Whether this is more for the 5 string than the 4 string versions I don't know. Mine was noticeably weaker and impossible to balance with the bridge no matter how much I tried adjusting the pickup heights. I didn't mind too much because the J alone sounds great, it's just quieter than the MM... which makes it complicated if you wanted to switch sounds live, but you do get a wide range to blended sounds that work very well.

Sire is installing a different pickup now (the older one had the small twin poles per string like a Jazz, the new one has big single poles) which seems to fix the issue. I got one of those new pickups from Sire, I just haven't tested it yet.

[Jonesy]

Lovely bass, have fin with it. 

 

That natural finish is the best of the line up imo, I just wish they did it in a Z3 as well.

[Franticsmurf]

1 hour ago, mcnach said:

One thing about the Z7 that is worth thinking about, is that some people find the neck J-style pickup to be much quieter than the bridge pickup.

Mine has the twin pole jazz pick up and I haven't noticed any significant drop off in volume. It was one of the things I was prepared for after reading other reviews, but it hasn't manifested itself here. 

 

58 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

That natural finish is the best of the line up imo, I just wish they did it in a Z3 as well.

Thanks. The finish was the trigger for me. I would have gone for the Z3 but I didn't like any of the finishes. 

[Jonesy]

38 minutes ago, Franticsmurf said:

Mine has the twin pole jazz pick up and I haven't noticed any significant drop off in volume. It was one of the things I was prepared for after reading other reviews, but it hasn't manifested itself here. 

 

Thanks. The finish was the trigger for me. I would have gone for the Z3 but I didn't like any of the finishes. 

 

The black and silver sparkle are the best of the Z3 finishes imo. They still don't beat the natural finish of the Z7 though, plus the roasted maple neck and those inlays all look great too. 

 

 

[neepheid]

Well, just to add some balance to the discussion (or maybe just stir the pot ) - I think the natural Z7 is the worst looking one of the bunch.  Last year when the Z7 was introduced I got my first choice (burgundy) and my second choice would have been white - because I wanted the ebony fretboard.